
Glass 
Book 



P a ^4- 



uo- 



T ^f 



I 



If 

« 



/ 



lit, THE WORK OF THE LORD, A.XD Tilt 
COWARB CURSED. 



SERMON, 

DELIVERED 

IJT THE 

First Presbyterian Meeting House 



IS 



CINCINNATTI, OHIO, 

TO THE 

CIKCINNAIT^I LIGHT COMPANIES. 

MAY 14, 1812. 

^" 

BY JOSHUA LACY WILSOSf, V. D. M. 



'sed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed 
thai keepeth back /us sxvordfrem blQod. ^ J£R£UIAH. 



> J * 
• • « 



lished at the request of Captain's Mansfield and 
Sloajt, shortly before they marched to Detroit. 

CINCINNATTI— PRINTED : H* %. 

COJVCORD, M H. 
RE.PRINTED BY I. AND W. R. HILL. 

181:3. 



^' "3C1- 



^.A.-' 



at 



A SEHMON". 



JEREMIAH Xlviii, 10. 

Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cuisui 
be he that kcepeth back his sword from blood. 

Ge7itte?nen Officers^ Genllemen Soldiers^ Friends^ " 

Brethren^ and Fellonv -Citizens ^ 

JL HE time is come, when the voice of our long 
inswUed and injured country calls to arms. The time is come 
whtn yon gentlemen Officers and Soldiers are called by the 
voice of your country to exchange for a season your honora- 
ble, peaceful occupations and the sweets of domestic life, for 
the toils, the dangers: and the glory of warfare- 

It must be a consolation to your friends, whom you leave 
behind, to witness the part you are acting this day, in assem- 
bling at the house of prayer, before your departure ; and I 
consider it a high honor conferred upon me, that I am thus 
aff^jrdid an opportunity of delivering to you a parting address. 
You k^ow, gentlemen, that I am a public minister of that 
Holy Religion, which <^\yt% glory to Gcdin the highest y speaks 
Peace oti earth and good will to men. Among the many be- 
nevolent precepts of this relit^ion, the following occupies a 
conspicuous place-—" If it be fiosaible^ as much as lieth in you, 
live peaceaoly with ail men.'' Tliis plainly implies, that cases 
may arid do occur, in which it is impossible to maintain /zfcre 
but at the expense o^ firincipley which v/ould be sinful and in. 
c:lorious. Therefore from the same divine source whence 
this peaceful precept emanates, we receive the following les- 
son of instruction : — " To every thing there is a season, and a 
tiiiie for every purpose under heaven — a time to kill and a 
lime to heal— a time to break down and a time to build up—- 
a time to love and a time to hate — a time of war and a time 
of peace." 

The passage choser as the foundation of my present ad- 
dress, forms apart of our sacred canon. It was originally 
spcken by a prophet of the Lord, when an important military 



xpeditlon was set on foot against Moab, one of the most 
iiaughty, tyrannical and God-provoking nations then upon 
earth. The strong features of this text are, that war is the 
work of the Lord, and that God's curse rests upon the heads 
cf traitors and cowards. 

'' Cursed be/fe that doeth tlie work of the Lord deceitfully, 
and cursed be he that keepelh back his sword from blood.'' 

The original word here translated deceitfully, signifies 
treacherously^ carelessly, negligently, or inattentively; and 
the sword, by a usual figure in rhetoric, is made to signify 
any weapon or instrument of war. The plain meaning of this 
passage of Scripture is, that when men are legally called to 
take up arms in a just cause, the curse of Heaven falls with 
vengeance «pon the head of that wretch, who, through the 
]ove of ease, the tenderness of connexions, or the fear of his 
enemies, loiters and shrinks back, betrays or refuses to use 
his weapon of defence against the cruel, unjust invaders of his 
country's rights. 

In speaking upon this subject, 1 design, 
I. To shew, that war is the work of the Lord. 
IL Point out how men perform this work deceitfiilly— And 
then improve the subject. 

*' Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceUfwlly, 
and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. ' 
L I am to shew, that war is the work of the Lord. 
This I shall do by producing the- Scripture testimony upon 
the subject, and shewing its correspondence with sound 
reason. 

I hope gentlemen you will keep in your eye, what I am 
about to prove, that war is the woik of the Lord. 1 com- 
mence the evidenc'^ upofl this head, by calling to your recol- 
lection, the son^ of Moses after the overthrow of Pharaoh and 
his hosti in the Red Sea. 

** I will sing unto the Lord for KE hath triumphed glori- 
ously. The Lord is my strength and mv- song, and HE is be- 
come my salvation, the Lord is a man of war, the Lord is 
his Name — Pharaoh's chariots and his host, hath he cast iwto 
the sea. his chosen captains also are drovned in the Red Sea." 
King David, the sweet singer of Israel, delivers his testimo- 
ny to the same point. " Who is God, save the Lor J — HE is 
a buckler to all those that trust in Him — It is God that girdetli 
me with strength ; HE teacheth my hands to war, and my 
fingers Xojight — for by I'hee, have I run through a troop, and 
by my God have I leaped over a wall." And in the xxivth 



I 



P^alni, he gives \is the following suWime view of Jehovah— 
»^ Life up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up ye tver- 
lasuno- doois, and the Kinp; of giory shall come in. Who is 
this Kin,^r of glory ? The Lord strong and mighty— the Lord 
mighiy in battle.'* 

Hear uosv whiU the Lord niig/:gy in dottle, said to Cyrus. 
; i i)i;s saith the i ord to his anon)l-d, to Cyrus, whose riu-ht 
nand I have holden to subdue the nations before him ; awd I 
^vill loose tne loins of kings to open before him, the two leaved 
gutcs, and the gates shail not be shut ; I will ^o Ijcfore thee 
and make the crooked places straiiyht : I will break in pieces 
the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars cf iron ; and I 
will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of 
secret places, th:it thou mayest know, that I the Lord, which 
call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my 
servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee 
by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not 
known me ; I am the Loid, and there is none else, there is no 
God besides me : I girded thee, though thou hast not known 
me ; I furna the lig/u and create darkness ; { vadk^/ieace and 
cr.^ate evil ; I the Lord do all these things." 

But what pats this subject beyond all controversy is that un- 
eciualed portrait of the Alpha and Omega drawn by the hand 
ot a divine artist in. the book of Revelation. *' I saw Heaven 
opened, and behold a white horse and he that sat on him was 
cai kd laithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judae 
ana make war— His eyes were ^s a flame of fire, and on his 
head were muny crowns— and He was clothed with a vesture 
dipped ID bleod. and out of hr> mouth goeth a sharp sword, 
and he treadeth the winc-press of the fierceness of the wrath 
m God -and He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name 
wriuen Kins qf kings and Lord o.f lords. ' Here vou 
see the great I AM, the Theos een^O Loses, the word which 
was God, m all the pomp and grandeur of Jehovah Jesus en- 
gaged m the mseparable transactions of Judgment and War 
In rig/i:eoumess He doth judge and make war. 

Christians adore your Savior—ye Kings of the earth em- 
brace your sovereign lest ye perish-Heathens bow to the 
sceptre of nis gracc-Infidtls fear before the '' Prince of the 
kmgs^Gt the earth;" whde devils tremble to the lowest pit 

.ouTrlToZ'"" ''"^ ^''"^'"^ "''''''' corresponds ^W. 



^r, i, 



e 



Here se''tl'=men, I fake it for granted, I am spenkm^ to 
those who believe in God. who reject the principle* of ancient 
l^d modern Atheism. Abdiefin God implies a p.rsua on 
that God t!6Verns the world, yea the universe. 1 he doctrii.es 
of Polytheism, of Fate or Chance, cannot gam the credence of 
yiur en ghte^ed rar.ds. You admit the in.erveBtion of second 
^»,,Ls but vou •' look through nature up to nature s God. 
Andin this'^g^ze of rational prospective you beho d Jehovah 
ft^m the soear of grass to the majestic oak-fiom the smadest 
^Tuceofd'st to the lofty A^des-from the microscopic ani- 
L^rule to the mammoth of the forest, or the Leviathan of the 
T nrl t-rlm th^ «low worm to the blazing comet, or more 
dazzling b™ms of noon day splendor. In the forked lightning 
vou b"hold his glory, in the thunder you hear his voice, in 
tr 'anhSiaU: y'ou '^ee. his POwer, and in ^he Reaming of 
shields and the clangor of arms, HE shew, his ju». a.i>i 

^■'•xS^roctrirofTustice and Judgment, are no unseasonable 
tenes sYnisinthe world, and death by sm. Nations are 
4nfu as well as individuals. But nations can on y be juoged 
nthir national capacity, and rewarded or Pun-hedj';,;^^^ 
present woild. God, who is XT^,\'i:uJn:iom 
''^•7,''nn?or:hltydictatefol,imtrem^^^^ 
' "f ^nf des°™c i^n ' Famine, pestilence, earthquake, fire 
Tnd wo d, become, in turn, the ministers o. his vengearxe^ 
Zi when in righteousness He doth judge and ™^ke U r. HD 
t"ercises the most complete dominion over the ^'^^ 
^Z-HE ,naketh th, -wrath of man to prmse Htm, ar.u J.c re 

'"t^T:;^'r^U;!orwi::-we„ .^derstood^ always a^ , 

ixedbuii rp. ^„ rorresDond n sayine, Jehovah hatti 

pear harmonious. 1 hey couespuuu n. » y ^ im'^E^eth, 

Sr I th War H.viPK proven, that war is the work of 

I Men do the work ol the Lord deceitfully, when they 
^'^lS^:FS^b::;r?whl:S:^"iy exercised, is,nu., 
JX S:UU.a,s and governments . ^t ^ - ■- P™- - 
which it ought to cease, and «^^'^;^;;5',°,^ rising too long 
For^towIJdXse ;;h:L'vrtra^.,led upon ^etir right. 
1 do'ot spelk her. -e n.liou more than atiother. . 



When Spain, with insult and injury, trampled on our iic:htS| 
national foibcarance vnas IrngHtncd out lili those who felt 
themselves most deeply injured were almost r< us.d into re* 
bellion and treason, the union cf the states was jeopard ztd, 
and that at last vvas |aiichustd wiih money, -which might in 
justice have been taken by the sword I mean the free na^i^a- 
tion of the Mississippi. But as human life is more dear than 
treasure, Americans, in that case, acquiesced in wiinholdaig 
the sword from blood. 

France in turn, has held the cup of insult and outrage to the 
lips of the American people. The laws of N8poleon*& empire 
have JDcen rigorously exvcnted to the flugiant violation of neu- 
tral rights, to the tuin ot many of our citizerts, and to the dis- 
grace of the American name, and yet we forbear. 

But England at present, deserves our more particular no- 
tice. England related to us by blood, by lani;uage, by inter- 
est, by laws, by customs and religion, with all the infernal 
principles of devils incarnate has ruined (as far as in her pow- 
er) our commerce, impressed our brave seamen into her ser- 
vice, insulted our government in her negocialicns, and stirred 
up the heathen against us. American rights purchased by 
the blood of our fathers, have been trampled under fool — 
Some of the best blood of our nation has alre^^dy been spill-— 
The companions of our youth have faller — Our women and 
children have been massacred I do not pretend to doubt but 
some among ourselves have had a sinful hand in exciting the 
Shawnoe Prophet to hostilities But much excitement and 
much aid have been from the British. The British and A- 
merican governments have both made presents to the Sav- 
ages — this vi'as politic and fair ; but have we excited them to 
hostilities against the Canadians? No. But they have ex- 
cited them against us by bribes, if not by threats ; and siirely 
in such a combination against wur frontiers hell must make a 
third parry. But you will perhaps say this is not an act of the 
British government. How do you know ? If the corrupt 
ministry of England can send emissaries among us in time of 
peace, to divide and distract our union, which only comes to 
light by the perfidy of Henry himsdf, laboring under disap- 
pointment, what will ti»ey not do ? Before we ever consent 
to peace with such a ministry the question ought to be fairly 
settled— .are they men or devils ? England waa forced lo ac- 
knowledge our independence against her will, and she rtr(>ains 
still ^^ur implacable enemy. After a treaty our < utposts were 
detained, and the fury of the savages made to rage ;j«jains^ us 



8 

for many years. The cltxi'/ive battle was at length fought 
undt-T the command of the brave Wayne, in sight of a British 
prarrison on our own territory. 

In time ot the French revolution, to the astonishment of Eu- 
rope, it was found that America hsd 60,000 schmtn. liie 
num'o-r h-as since increased, and such is iiie abomination of 
Briiitih outrage, thht 5 or 6 000 of our brave Arnerlcins forced 
lata the servxe cf that despotic government, are niade to fight 
her unjust battles> and commit depreclativ ns upr n their f Ilo\y 
citiztnis. If this statement be incorrect I will stand corrected 
here or eUewhere. but such is my information, i know, 
gentlemen, that many of these have been pressed out of Brit- 
ish merchant ships, t.^ey hire in the East-Ii.dies, to man the 
merchant vessels to Liverpool, Dover, &c, and the press-a-anp* 
takes them out ot British bottoms; but^tdlit is unjust ai]d 
tyrannical. If Americans expatriate thcAiselves and volun- 
tarily enlist in the British service, tney may do so ; but Britain 
has no right to force an American into her service, and detain 
him without his consent — And if there we^e but 6 instead of 
5,000 it would be a sufficient cause of war. V/ar cannot just- 
ly be waged but in sell-d-fence ; but self-defence consists 
either in opposing the enemy when he directly moves against 
us, or by a collateral stroke, in case of collateral invasion. In- 
vasion of rights we have by sea, war we have bv savages ; 
both are British, bth unjust, and both cruel. If we cannot 
strike at the head, let us sirikc at the i^eel — the great Achilles 
ftll by a w-.und in the heel. Cursed be he that do^ih the "Mork 
oflhc Lnrd dcctitfulaj. 

2. When men seek their own ease, niore than the iust dc- 
fence ot their counMy^, ih^y do the v/ork of tlic Lord dcxeil- 
fully. tinv far this curse may fall upon lazy men, who seek 
plyccs irt the army in lime of peace, in order to indulge them- 
Eelvts in idleness, or hu-cr in tinic of war to avoid the fatigues 
and dvmj^trs of ihe field I shall not prerend to determine ; 
but I have liUle fear of its lightinj^ upon you, gesiUMBen. I 
know you *o be men of i.)dus ry, and I b-lieve you to be mcQ 
of valor. 

S. When men eag", g-e in war lor the sake of spoil, they 
-come u.der the curse. 

To be t^re -Ay of suoil is a hateful disposition, and beneath 
the dignity of a true patriot. But spoil cannot be your object 
in the p"csenr. campaign, for you are making great sacrifices 
for your country *{> service. 



4. When men effeminate themselves by noting in places of 
safety. If you. gentlemen, should at any time be stationed in 
a place of safety and plenty, avoid indulgence as you would 
the deadly poison. Accustom yourselves to the fatigues of 
the match and the handle of arms 

5. When men shun their enemies, they do the v/ork of the 
Lord deceitfully. 

This docs not imply that retreat under certain circumstan- 
ces is not lawful. Sometimes there is more real merit in a 
retreat than in a combat ; but what I mean is, if men t!. rough 
cowardice betray the confidence and the safety of their coun- 
try by shunning the foe, they deserve the execration of our 
text 

6. When men are unwilling to submit to necessary disci- 
pline and yet pretend to bear arms, they do the work of the 
Lord deceitfully. Discipline or order is all-important in an 
array. I have been happy in witnessing the discipline of these 
Light Companies. You, gentlemen soldiers, are under officers 
of your own choosing — men who are your fellow citizens, 
companions and friends, and you have submitted to a discipline 
which, while it does honor to yourselves, shows the soundness 
of your judgment in the selection of officers who are capable 
of commanding without usurpation. 

But I fear this curse ivill fall upon the militia of our country 
in general. What is the boast of the American nation ? We 
boast not in fleets or standing armies, but as far as we dare to 
boast in an arm of fitsh, we boast of our militia. The words 
well organi-zedls introduced and the tone of the administration 
is, a well orgunized militia is the buhvark of our nation. But 
this is trusting in a non-entity. Men we have, thousands and 
tens of thousands of miliiia can be rfiarched into ihe field, but 
a w(ll organized militia we have not- The law may be good, 
but it is not executed. Officers hold commissions who arc 
themselves ignorant ; and what is still worse is, that many are 
too lazy or too proud to karn. Offxers we have who know 
their duty, but such is the licentiousness and indolence of the 
soldiery they will not submit to command. It is truly painful 
to attend our musters. What do we see and hear ? — While 
men are in the ranks unarmed, some with slicks and some 
with their hands in their pockets, we hear some gabbling, 
and some grunting, and some yawning — wc see some silling, 
and some lolling, and some standing more like oxen than 
men. And is this the bulwark of our nation ? No; but a 
well orgajiized militia. I am willing to hazard an opinion that 



10 

a well organizijd militia would supersede the necessity of regu- 
lar troops; but in the present state of things the miJilia operates 
only as a scare-crow. I wish uot by this to give offence, but 
to slate facts which are within the knowledge of all, that we 
may be roused to energy and order. 

I am happy to hear that in the eastern states discipline is 
much better attended to ; but I relate facts which exist 
among ourselves, and fear the curse of heaven for our negli- 
gence. 

7. Men fall under this curse when they unnecessarily pro- 
long the war in order to live at the public expense. 

I have no fear, gentlemen, of your doing this. Let this 
curse full upon cur enemies. Let it fall upon those corrupt 
administrations v/ho delight to shed itsnccent blood. Your in- 
terest, your happiness and glory, are inseparable froiii the 
privileges of free citizens, of one of the best governments upon 
earth. Your interest is interwoven with that of your country. 
At her voice you draw the sword for the protection cf those 
rights, which were purchased by the blood of American patri- 
ots and heroes, and at her pacific voice, you will exchange im- 
plements of death for those of husbandry, when justice has 
been done to our injured country. Hail the happy moment ! 
Hail the j^^-yful hour, when you shall return to Circinnatli, 
covered with military glory, to enjoy all the comforts uhich 
you now so nobly relinquish for the safety find peace cf ©ur 
nation. 

/ 

I proceed now to the improveirieTi t of this subject. 

1. Ijtet us learn from this subject, that tliough war is the work of 
the Lord, yet m:m is not excusable when i)c engag-cs in it for b:.se p'jr- 
poocs, or from evil motives. Ii is no unconnno-a thing- for men to ful- 
fil the decrees of heaven, by the works of wicked hands. The history 
of Jospph, the history of the Jev/s, and tl:ie doctrines of the Apostles 
respcctir.c^ tlic cviicifix'on of our Savior, go to prove this truth, th«,t 
men do wickcaiy what Jeliovali means for f^ood- Let «» examine v.'ell 
our motives, never engap:e in war but in a juat cause, and, when we do 
enjciige> let us do the wo;k f;.itirruily. 

2. If the curse of God fails upon the nogligxnt, its li^^hts with ennal 
vcng-eance upon the cov/ind. " Curserl be he that keepeth back his 
sv.ord from blood." Of all tlie reptiles tJiat crav/1 upon the surface of 
o\u- guilty ,^'lobe, the cov/ard is the ip.ost contemptible. A man who 
tnjovs the privileges of a citizen, and r-jfuscs to meet ids enemy, when 
lawfully called to the defence of his country, deserves not the name of 
a man. He deserves not to be ranked with decent bru'.es. He is not 
fit to live, he is not fit to die. Ijct him r:.nk witJi the terrapin and 
snail, or if their motion be too stow for his hi.sty timidity, let him 
shroud himself in the precipitant darkness of the mole, or assume the 
pinions of the nceturBai lapwing. Bat wbut sh»ll wo say of tV.cse 



11 

-hose titniditv is sanctioned l>y law, v/ha keep b;icJk the sword from 
blood, under pretence of the rights of conscience '.r a vuin excuse ot 
invaUdi^- ' Passion, prejucl-ce and coxvurdice, have each m turn been 
cTlled conscience. Bit what has conscience to do ^^^^-J-^^^^^l' ^> 
as these people pretend, it is contrary to the laws of Chnst, to taJ^e up 
"m inrelMcflnce, then no hun.an law can m^e ^^^^-'^ 
anv human law contradicts the divine law, we are bound as Christians 
WoTood, and not man, if it cost us our livcs. The Imman uw 
sav « If any man conscientiously refuses lo bear arms, he shall not be 
cSnpelledtodo.^., but shall pay an eqvuvalent for persov^ scrv.c ! ^ 
With this law uiese conscientious people comply. Thev uill not 
fip-ht • but thev will pav others for hghtuigr. It the human lau savs, 
then «VOU shall cut your neighbor's throat," you say you cannot m 
conscieLe do it, but \f it givel. you an alternanve to c;n his thro^ or 
pay for somebody else to do it,you can very conscK.iciou 3 ad dcA outly 
comply. The truth is, conscience haS VroUung to do n ^lie ca^^J^^^ 
fore us ; it is downright cowardice, interwoven wita a conti.mea 

^'Stkere are real invalids, I do not deny. The old and Innrm ai^ 
among us. But how many in time of pe.ce, ^'^^}^^Z''^-!^}l'^^^e% .^^^^ 
as soon as the drum beats to arms, are invalids'. Ou^^js ^"^le^ , 
who are exempted from military service, on account of age or v. » 
who might be of service for home defence. Wiule others are called to 
the field, are we quietlv to fold up our hands and snuii the ashes ? It 
war be declared against England, we know not at what moment emis- 
saries and tories may appear among us — We know not at^wnat mo- 
ment, the negroes may rise against us— It is not more than 30 miles to 
our frontiers on Whitewater, and we know not at what instant they 
may need our aid. But if by considering ourselves exempt from duty, 
we remain unarmed and undisciplined, the moment may arrive wl^eii 
we shall fall an easy sacrifice in our own domicils. 1 am exempt from 
bearing arms upon two legal grounds ; I am an invalid in flvct, and a 
minister of the gospel by office, but I have armed myself under a sense 
of duty, and if my country needs my service, God forbid that I should 
stand back. " Cui'sed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood," 
when a just cause and an injured country call upon him to repel the foe. 
I will read to you, gentlemen, a piece of ancient history upon this 
subject When Jabin the king of Canaan, miglitily oppressed Israel 
for *20 years, deliver.ance was wrought by the hands of women— Debo- 
rah, the wife of Lapidoth, and Jael, the wife of Ueber. When this de- 
liverance was wrought, a portion of the people kept back the sword 
from blood, andthe'Cod of armies sent his angel to curse them for 
their cowardice. " Curse ye Meroz, (said the angel f)f tlie Lord) curse 
ye.bitterly, the inhabitants thereof, l^ecause they came not to tl-e help 
of the Lord, to the help of the Lordag.dnst the might)." *' Blessed 
above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be ; biessed 
above wompn gl.vall%liie>,|^ in the t^jnt— Sli^put her liand to th^>- il^-nnd 
her right hand to the workm.-.n's lu-mmd^, awd wit-l* the hajlffrjer ^he 
sniote Sisera, she ^mote ofi'his head, after she had pierced and sti ickeu 
through his temples." "^ 

But while we unite- in'^xecs^t in jr cowardice, kt us try"\o understand 
tme courage. It consis^l.iot mjfiic sv;>^gjwin^fa bully, tlic private 
aaaiice of the dueiisv, ttieS-age ot desperation, ihc presKimption of Uie 



12 



ambitious, nor a mean display of military pomp. But consists in thft 
deliberate intrepidity of tlie mag-nanimous soul, who has justice and 
righteousness in vie Win the conflict, and writes his motto, "Liberty 
or Death." ^ 

2. Remember, gentlemen, you are not authorised from this subject,' 
to mdulge a spiteful, revengeful temper towards vour enemies, or ta 
eng-ag-e in acts of outrag-e and cruelty. When the soldiers came to 
Jeiin and asked him, " what shall we do ?" he docs not tell them to 
lay down their arms, nor tamely to submit to every imposition, nor to 
go « \yith ropes upon their heads, and sackcloth upon their loins," and 
submit to the sceptre of every invader, but he answered ai:d said, ".do 
violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely and be content witli your 
Wages." 

Consider the state of the times. No declaration of war has yet been 
made . The present preparations are measiu-es of defence. Though 
the Savages have killed our brs^e fellow citizens and massacred women 




strike, but discrimiu-^.te, and strike only your toes. And should a case 
ever occur that v^u can secure an enemy without taking his life, shew 
liim that yOiiare humane gentlemen, as well as brave soldiers. 

'i. I cannot consent to close this subject, without calling you to a 
more important v/arfare — a warfare against sin. *• Righteousness ex- 
alteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.'' I know that the 
doctrine of sin is treated by some with gieat levity and scorvi ; but I 
y/ill take the liberty of saying, " Foolt. make a mock at sin." The sub- 
jug-ation of lust a.nd passion is of vast moment, " He that is slow to 
anger, is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit, tlian he 
that tuketh a city.'* The anny has been considered the school of vice, 
but it is not necessarily .so. Abraham and David, and Cornelius, and 
Gardiner, and Washirlgton, v/ere all maiilary men, and ail men of 
em ine nt piety and virtue. 

Take such for your example, and in attempting to conquer sin and 
Satan, have a proper respect to our Great High Priest, whose blood 
cleanseth from all unrighteousness, whose spirit leads into all trutii, 
and who rewards his people witiian inheritance incorruptible, undefiled 
and that fi^deth not away. 

Finally, gentlemen, Ibid you adieu. May God prosper you in your 
way, and gi,ve you a safe return. If you live, live to the Lord ; and if 
you die, diti to' the Lord ; and glory, honor, and immortality shall be 
youf sure and tmalteruble rewaid. And let all the people say AaiEN. 




\ 
V 



^^n^ ^^t'^'^-^-^^^^l- 



/; 



^/// 



> 



C 




\ ■-, 



i 



